Appomattox County Courthouse is the Visitor Center for Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
OPERATING HOURS
The Appomattox County Courthouse building now serves as the Visitor Center for Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. It is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, except when closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. It closes at 2 PM on December 24th and 31st. Keep in mind that times can always change, so before heading to the park, be sure to get the current schedule on the National Park Service’s Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the park.
COURTHOUSE HISTORY
The Appomattox County Courthouse building that stands today is not the building from the Civil War-era but a reproduction built in 1963-64 by the National Park Service. The original courthouse was built in 1846, the year after Appomattox County was established. The building was standing when General Robert E. Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865, but it burned down in 1892. Since a new courthouse was now needed, the citizens voted to move the county seat two miles west to Appomattox Station where the railroad junction was located, and Appomattox Court House began its slow death as people moved away. The building was well-documented, so today’s courthouse is a faithful reproduction of the original.
Back side of the Appomattox County Courthouse building at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
AMENITIES
- Ranger-staffed information desk where you can pick up a free park brochure and trail map
- Museum
- Park Film
- Restrooms
A souvenir and book store is located in the Clover Hill Tavern kitchen a short walk from the courthouse.
Clover Hill Tavern Kitchen is now the book and souvenir store for Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
PARK FILM
The 17-minute film Appomattox: With Malice Toward None shows in the Visitor Center theater on the hour and half hour. The first show is at 9 AM and the last is at 4:30 PM. The film covers Confederate general Robert E. Lee’s departure from Petersburg on April 2nd in an attempt to move south and join with General Joseph E. Johnston’s Army of the Tennessee in North Carolina; Grant’s pursuit of Lee in an attempt to cut off the Confederate Army’s escape routes; the battles over the next seven days, including the final clash in Appomattox County; the surrender at Appomattox Court House, which takes up most of the film; Lincoln’s assassination six days after the surrender; and the emancipation of the slaves at the conclusion of the war. The story is told through historical photos and modern, live-action scenes with actors. Some of the historical photos show dead bodies, so parents need to be aware that the film might disturb young children, but for the most part, it is suitable for all ages.
MUSEUM
The museum inside Appomattox Court House National Historical Park’s Visitor Center holds a vast collection of artifacts. It is not a typical National Park museum where there are mainly information exhibits designed to enlighten visitors about the events pertaining to the park. Instead, it is more of a collection—or hodgepodge—of personal artifacts from various soldiers and civilians who were at Appomattox Court House when Lee surrendered. If you were a soldier at the time and you saved your personal items from the war, nearly 90 years later when the park was created, your relatives could donate your belongings to the museum and you would now be featured for eternity in an exhibit.
Personal items of Private Alexander Watson on display at the Appomattox Court House museum inside the Visitor Center
There are some important items on display, including the pencil Lee used to sign the surrender documents and a part of the first Flag of Truce that Confederate captain Robert Sims carried with him on April 9, 1865, to the Federal line when asking that the fighting be suspended so that Lee and Grant could meet. There are also various battle flags from units that took place in the fighting around Appomattox County.
61st Virginia Infantry Regiment flag on display at the Appomattox Court House museum inside the Visitor Center
One section of the museum features paintings of the surrender ceremony, both from the time and modern. An enlarged reproduction of a 1965 painting by Tom Lovell now fills an entire wall. The painting was originally commissioned by National Geographic for publication in its April 1965 magazine. Keep in mind that no artist was actually present at the meeting between Grant and Lee, so the scenes are based on witness testimonies and conjecture.
Reproduction of Tom Lovell’s Surrender at Appomattox painting at the Appomattox Court House museum inside the Visitor Center
There are also two video presentations that are started with the push of a button. The first, Voices of Appomattox, features quotes from those who were at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, read by voice actors. When done, the screen prompts you to view the program on the adjacent scene, which is about the battle on the morning of the 9th. Some of the footage comes from the film shown in the theater.
Voices of Appomattox video presentation at the Appomattox Court House museum inside the Visitor Center
SCHEDULING YOUR TIME
Plan to spend from 30 minutes to an hour at the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park Visitor Center. Thirty minutes should give you time to talk with a Ranger about what there is to see and do at the park, watch the park film, a give the museum a brief look. If you want to read all the information in the museum, allow a full hour.
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Last updated on June 23, 2023